Cochlear names new CEO

Cochlear has named ResMed executive VP Dr Chris Roberts as its new CEO, replacing Jack O'Mahony.

Roberts will join Cochlear on February 1, 2004, after finishing up 11 years at ResMed at the end of December. He will remain a director of the company.

Roberts will bring 20 years of senior management experience to Cochlear, first at Nucleus, and later at ResMed, where he was responsible for developing and managing ResMed's Asian and European markets.

Cochlear CFO Neville Mitchell said Roberts' technology and business credentials in the medical devices industry gave him the right background to run Cochlear. "And from a nationalistic point of view, it's good to have an Australian heading us up with skills from overseas," he said.

Cochlear chairman Tommie Bergman said Roberts was chosen from an outstanding field of candidates, which included several from overseas.

ResMed will replace Roberts with ResMed Asia-Pacific's VP of sales and marketing, Paul Eisen, who has been promoted to the newly-created role of VP of sales and marketing for Europe and the Asia-Pacific.